Lesson
3 The World’s Climates
What You Will Learn
To describe and locate the world’s
major climate zones
Reading Strategy
Draw a globe like the one below.
Label the three climate zones that
are based on latitude. Then identify
the lines of latitude that separate the
climate zones.
I
t is the weekend and you have plans to go to the beach. You will
probably be interested in knowing what the weather will be like
that day. You will want to know if it will be wet or dry, cool or
warm. If you were planning to move to another part of the world
to live, you would want to know more about the place than its
weather. You would want to know about its climate. Climate refers
to the weather patterns in a place over a long period of time.
Why Are Climates Different?
Why is it always cold at the North Pole? Why is it warm yearround in cities near the Equator? The climate of a place depends
on the amount of direct sunlight it receives. Places near the
Equator receive direct sunlight year-round. In contrast, the North
Pole never receives direct sunlight.
The sun is not the only factor that affects climate. Wind, ocean
currents, and landforms also determine the climate of an area.
The World’s Climate Zones
Geographers often divide the earth into climate zones—tropical, dry, middle latitude, high latitude, and highlands. Because climates vary within these broad regions, geographers further
divide the major regions into smaller ones. Figure 3-3 describes
the temperatures and precipitation that are generally found in
each of the major climate zones.
Look at Map 3-3. The map shows where the climate zones of
the world are located. Find the five major climate zones on the
map. Near what lines of latitude can you find the tropical climate
zone? How does sunlight help to make places in this area hot
year-round? What part of the United States has a dry climate?
Terms to Know
weather, climate
Figure 3-3
World Climate Zones
CLIMATE ZONE
Temperature
Precipitation
Tropical
Hot year-round
Large amounts of precipitation
Dry
Hot summers and cool winters; hot days and cold nights
Little or no precipitation
Middle Latitude
Range of temperatures; warm to hot summers and cool
to cold winters
Moderate amounts of precipitation
High Latitude
Freezing temperatures common much of the year; cold
summers and very cold winters
Very little precipitation
Highlands
Depends on elevation; the higher the elevation, the cooler
the temperatures
Precipitation varies widely
LESSON 3 The World’s Climates
107
World Climate Zones
Map 3-3
90°N 180°W
120°W
60°W
0°
60°E
120°E
180°E 90°N
Climate Zones
60°N
60°N
Tropical
Dry
30°N
30°N
Tropic of Cancer
Middle Latitudes
High Latitudes
Equator
0°
0°
Highlands
Tropic of Capricorn
30°S
30°S
60°S
60°S
90°S
180°W
0°
180°E
90°S
Using Your Skills
Recalling Facts
Use the reading, Figure 3-3, and Map 3-3 to answer these questions.
1.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is the temperature and precipitation in a place over a short period of time; climate is
the weather patterns in a place over a long period of time
2.
What four factors help to determine the climate of a given area?
the amount of direct sunlight a place receives, wind, ocean currents, and landforms
3.
What kinds of temperature and precipitation are found in the high
latitude climate zone?
cold, often freezing temperatures and very little precipitation
4.
How does elevation affect temperature in highlands climate zones?
the higher the elevation, the cooler the temperatures
5.
What climate zone has hot temperatures year-round?
tropical climate zone
6.
In what climate zone is much of eastern Europe located?
middle latitude climate zone
7.
What climate zone is located near the Equator?
8.
Name three areas of the world in which highlands climate zones are found.
tropical climate zone
western South America (the Andes); northwestern North America (the Rocky Mountains);
central Asia (the Himalaya)
108
LESSON 3 The World’s Climates